Brilliant, again in x-country

Once again, Brilliant Star Montessori School’s cross-country runners shone brighter than the nonexistent Saturday morning sun in the second PSS/NMA All Schools Cross-Country 2024-2025 qualifier-Run Saipan Invitational at the American Memorial Park.

In the 1-mile course around the AMP softball field, onto the loop road, then toward the beach, through the wooded area, then back to the path, they topped the boys and girls elementary school division, just like they did in the first qualifier at the CPA Airport Field last Sept 7.

The boys garnered 37 points for first place; Grace Christian Academy collected 46; Agape Christian School had 58; San Vicente Elementary School scored 62; Mount Carmel School had 78 points; Garapan Elementary School came away with 92 points; Saipan International School had 106 points; Saipan Community School was at 113 points; and Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School scored 153 points.

In the girls division, BSS had 25 points; MCS was second at 40; SIS was at 55; William S. Reyes Elementary School had 75 points; and GCA collected 82 points.

The fastest kid on the course was still GCA’s Beau Bauer with a time of 7:50. SIS’ Gabriel Walsh was second in the boys division with 8:13, and third was O’marion Reyes at 8:35.

Lovel Spaeth of BSS was still the speediest girl with a time of 7:59; second was SIS’ Kaylen Taflinger at 8:14; and Angela You of ACS was third at 8:47.

Ten-year-old Bauer said after the race, “It was a good course. I liked how it was through a jungle. The toughest part was the sand part because it was slippery and there’s no traction.”

On his two first-place finishes in a row, he said, “I feel good. I train a lot. I also play soccer and I have a soccer game today (last Saturday) too.”

The next qualifier is the SIS Gecko 5000 at Banzai Cliff is on Sept. 28; the ISA Invitational with the location to be determined is on Oct. 5; and the championship is set for Oct. 12 at the Saipan Country Club at Saipan Vegas.